JEDDAH, 16 May — Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, has stated that the Kingdom will go ahead with the multibillion-dollar Yamamah offset program.
“The project is a positive one and is going ahead. There is no plan to stop it,” the prince said following his talks with British counterpart Geoff Hoon on Tuesday night.
Saudi Arabia and Britain signed the Yamamah arms deal in 1985.
Prince Sultan highlighted the Kingdom’s historic relations with Britain. “Saudi-British friendship goes back more than 65 years, but that doesn’t mean there are no differences in viewpoints,” he said.
Hoon, who arrived here from Kuwait, also held talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard.
Asked about the economic relations with Britain, Prince Sultan said: “The United States and Britain are among the countries with which we have better cooperation in investment projects and economic offset programs.”
Prince Sultan reaffirmed the significance of the Middle East peace plan presented by Crown Prince Abdullah during his recent visit to the United States.
“Everybody supports the crown prince’s initiative,” he added.
Prince Sultan said Hoon’s visit will strengthen cooperation between the two countries. “We are making steady progress with Britain,” he said.
Hoon commended the strong bilateral relations and thanked the prince for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to him and his delegation.
“I feel at home here,” he added.
Prince Sultan later hosted a dinner in honor of the British minister at his palace in Jeddah. A number of other princes and ministers, as well as the chief of army staff and commanders of the armed forces, attended the dinner.
